Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Some time later, both Aelric and Sylveris stood at the edge of the Essence Pool, their attention focused on the seven figures occupying its center.

Surprisingly, despite its enormous appearance, the Essence Pool wasn’t particularly deep. Its deepest point extended only a few meters beneath the surface, making it relatively shallow in comparison to its immense breadth and this allowed the seven Awakeners within it to maintain their buoyancy without difficulty as they prepared themselves for the breakthrough.

The liquid was cool but not uncomfortably so.

One would have assumed that, being situated deep beneath the earth and surrounded by vast subterranean formations of stone and crystal, its temperature would have been several degrees below freezing.

Yet that wasn’t the case. If anything, its temperature was remarkably ordinary, almost deceptively so and this ensure that the seven could remain within the liquid without discomfort despite having most of their skin exposed.

Of course, cultivation itself didn’t require the absence of clothing. In fact, there was absolutely no ancient rule stating that one had to strip themselves bare before attempting a breakthrough.

But since none of them particularly wanted to soak their clothes in an Essence Pool of unknown properties, they had little choice but to remove their outer garments, leaving the females in their undergarments.

Regaleon, especially, had been forced to remove his Armour.

The golden Armour that had accompanied him throughout countless battles was simply too bulky and cumbersome, and wearing it within the pool would likely interfere with his ability to find a comfortable position.

The same couldn’t be said for Valmyr. The failed Vanguard had stubbornly retained his beastskin armor.

Whether that was because he considered it an essential part of his battle preparations or simply because he refused to part with something he considered valuable was anyone’s guess.

Vaelorin and Veyrath had also removed their outer robes, as had Kaeloris, leaving behind only a thin layer of clothing to preserve at least some measure of modesty.

After all, one couldn’t have too much decency when it came to situations like this; even if they were trapped within a purgatory like the Nether Lands.

The seven eventually arranged themselves in a semicircle, their bodies partially submerged within the luminous liquid and their gazes fixed upon Aelric.

Although they were all excited about becoming Etheryeans, they understood that breaking through, despite how exhilarating the prospect sounded, wasn’t child’s play.

They were about to cross an enormous boundary. They were no longer merely strengthening themselves as Awakeners; instead, they were attempting to step into the realm of true cultivators.

The leap from Awakener to Etheryean represented an entirely different level of existence, and the slightest mistake during such a transition could have devastating consequences.

For that reason, none of them allowed their excitement or any other reckless emotional impulse to dictate their actions. Instead, they simply stared at Aelric with quiet expectation, wanting him to supervise the entire process.

Although they had read enough books to understand the theoretical procedure of breaking through, they had still decided that listening to Aelric would be the wisest choice.

After all, he was already an Etheryean. And more importantly, he had personally undergone the process.

There was a significant difference between reading about something in a book and receiving instructions from someone who had actually experienced it.

Sylveris stood at the edge of the pool, holding their clothes in her arms.

Her eyes remained fixed upon the seven people she had gradually come to regard as family.

There was a peculiar gleam within those silver-blue eyes; one that was filled with longing and a quiet yearning to stand among them rather than outside their circle.

She very much wanted to join them but she couldn’t as she was different from them.

The group had actually suggested once that perhaps she could join them as well. After all, the Essence Pool might have provided some benefits to her but Aelric had immediately rejected the idea.

And his reason had been serious.

According to the green-eyed youth, had this been an ordinary Aether Pool, there might have been little reason to object. An ordinary Aether Pool, when properly regulated, wouldn’t necessarily pose an immediate danger to a fourteen-year-old Awakener.

But this wasn’t an Aether Pool; it was an Essence Pool. And not merely an Essence Pool, a natural one to booth.

The energy contained within it was so extraordinarily potent that an ordinary person wouldn’t even be capable of bathing within its waters.

Their body would simply be overwhelmed, destroyed and reduced to a bloody pulp before they could even comprehend what had happened.

At first, the group had thought Aelric might have been exaggerating. But now, they no longer believed that.

The moment they had entered the pool themselves, they had realized that perhaps they had been the ones who had underestimated the overwhelming potency of the Essence Pool.

Despite being Awakeners, it had taken them considerable time to adapt to the oppressive density of its energy. And that was already with their enhanced physiques and strengthened mental faculties.

Sylveris had yet to even undergo her first Awakening so her body remained fundamentally human.

Therefore, if she entered the pool now, the result wouldn’t simply be uncomfortable; it would be catastrophic.

For that reason alone, Aureleah in particular had repeatedly warned her younger sister not to approach the pool and Sylveris could so nothing but obey.

So she remained at the edge, quietly observing the seven figures in the water while making a silent determination within her heart.

One day, she thought. One day, she would stand there too and would no longer be the one standing at the sidelines, watching others advance while she remained behind.

But that was a matter for another day. For now, Sylveris could only watch...

Aelric, on the other hand, was entirely different.

He was serious and highly focused. In fact, since the group had come to know him, this might have been the first time they had seen the green-eyed youth become this serious.

Aelric usually carried himself with an almost careless laxity. He was playful, casual, and seemingly incapable of taking anything too seriously for long. And through their interactions with him, he group had already come to understand that he was someone who was habitually irreverent and seemingly carefree.

But none of that remained now. His usual casual composure and lackadaisy was gone. And so was his playful smile.

His expression was calm, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in his eyes.

The reason for such focus was simple.

What they were about to undertake might appear insignificant to an ordinary person. To someone who didn’t understand cultivation, it was merely the process of moving from one stage to another.

To a cultivator, however, it was a matter of life and death. Should anything go wrong, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, the consequences could be unimaginable.

A minor deviation in the circulation of energy could damage their Aether Veins, a moment of distraction could disrupt their breakthrough, and an improperly controlled surge of energy could shatter their foundation.

There was no room for mistakes and no accident could be tolerated at this stage.

It was precisely because of all these that the group had decided to act solely according to Aelric’s instructions.

They wouldn’t rely on what they had read, they wouldn’t improvise based on something they had heard; instead, they would simply follow. Because theoretical knowledge was one thing, and actual experience was another.

Aelric took a slow breath. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a grave tone that immediately commanded everyone’s attention.

”I’m sure by now that you all are aware of the immensity of what you’re about to undergo, so I don’t think there’s any need for warnings and other superfluous admonishments.”

His gaze swept across the seven figures.

”Therefore, I’ll only speak about things pertaining to the realm you’re about to break through.”

Immediately, his brows narrowed. His expression became stern and intensely scrutinizing, as though he were evaluating every single person standing before him.

”Listen.” The single word was enough to make everyone straighten. ”You’ve all reached the absolute limit of what an Awakener can become.”

He paused. ”For that reason, there’s no need for you to proceed with the Saturation Process.”

The group remained silent but that doesn’t mean they didn’t understand what those two words stand for.

The Saturation Process was a specific cultivation prerequisite in which an Awakener had to ensure that the energy contained within their body had reached the necessary threshold for a breakthrough.

It was an extremely important step.

There were cultivators who, either through ignorance or impatience, attempted to break through without determining whether they had actually reached the ceiling of their current realm.

They would force the breakthrough. And only after crossing into the next realm would they discover the terrible truth.

There were gaps in their foundation, or their energy wasn’t sufficiently refined, or perhaps their physical bodies hadn’t reached the necessary threshold.

Such deficiencies might seem insignificant at first. But cultivation was a journey measured over decades, centuries, and sometimes even millennia.

A flaw that appeared insignificant at the beginning could eventually become an enormous obstacle and cultivators with incomplete foundations were often forced to endure prolonged stagnation.

Some would struggle to advance beyond their current realm whole others would experience cultivation deviations. A few might even remain trapped at a particular stage for the remainder of their lives.

Therefore, cultivators, especially Awakeners, were strongly advised to undergo the Saturation Process before attempting a breakthrough.

And this principle wasn’t exclusive to Awakeners. In most cases, Etheryeans also had to ensure that they had reached the necessary threshold before attempting to advance to the next rank.

For that reason, several members of the group had initially been worried.

They weren’t entirely certain whether they had truly reached the absolute ceiling of the Awakener Realm.

What if they had missed something?

What if there was still room for improvement?

What if they broke through too early and created an irreparable flaw within their foundations?

Those concerns had lingered within their minds.

But hearing Aelric confidently state that they had already surpassed the requirements and reached the absolute limit of their current realm finally put their minds at ease.

At least, they no longer had to worry about whether they were advancing too soon. They had reached the ceiling and now, there was only one thing to do...